Auto show hobbyists meet new challenges as they prepare their entries, whether they are working on an antique, a classic, or a new vehicle. Finding how to use the best automobile detailing supplies to achieve the desired results is a matter of trial and error. Proper planning helps find the logical sequences for the best outcome. Also, the hobbyist must become an expert in many areas, knowing how to detail the tires and wheels of the cars as well as knowing how to clean automotive upholstery. (See the article, "Automotive Detailing: How to Clean Automotive Upholstery.")
Preparing the wheels, wheel wells, tires, spokes, and hubcaps of a vehicle for a show demands consistent time and effort "and the proper auto detailing cleaning products. Detailing on a regular schedule (for instance, once a month) keeps a final detailing before a show from being an overwhelming task. Working on this area first also saves time and effort. Tires, wheels, etc., should be detailed before the rest of the car because the products that are most efficient for this job can be harmful to the finish of the car’s paint and can, at the least, spoil the polish job. You won’t be accidentally splashing the just-waxed body of your car with the tire cleaner. Perfection in the tire area truly gives the look of "showroom" condition.
Be sure to work in the shade and not in the heat or full sun. This is not the kind of hot car you are aiming for. Full sun can cause streaks. Have your automobile detailing supplies laid out and ready. Remove your hubcaps or any other part of your wheel area that can be taken off. This way, you can really get at the tires, and also wash all sides of the removable parts. Some serious detailers will even remove the tires. Take the time to wash, rinse, dry, and buff each tire or part before moving on to the next one. Completing each in turn will prevent any water spots from drying on the surface of the wheel.
Begin by carefully rinsing away any dirt or mud that might have coated the underbelly of the car or wheel wells. A second type of soil that is found on the tire area is brake dust. This material is gray in color and caused by the wear and tear on the brake pads. Do not use an excessively forceful water stream to rinse your tire area, since small rocks or sand could spin with the force of the water and scratch the surface of the car. You may use a soft brush to dislodge soil as you rinse. Try a soft bristled brush like Fuller Brush’s Vehicle Wash Brush. (For restoring a really dirty car, you may need a firmer bristle such as Fuller’s Tire Scrub Brush.) Mix a mild degreaser (such as Fulsol All-Purpose Degreaser) with water in a large bucket. Gently wash each tire and wheel with a soft wash mitt (Fuller Car Wash Mitt) or sponge. Each time you are ready to dip your mitt in the bucket of degreaser, remember to first rinse off your mitt so any particles of rock or sand will be removed. That way, you won’t be simply moving the soil around, and you won’t risk scratches to the wheel surfaces. (Also, to avoid scratches to the finish on the body of the car, use a different mitt for the body area.) Finish with a detailing brush like Fuller’s Wheel and Spoke Detailing Brush. You will be able to thoroughly clean every bit of dirt from your tires without a scratch, and you will be ready for the next step, dressing and polishing the surfaces. Pay special attention to your manufacturer’s directions when you choose a treatment or polish for this part of your car. The wheel area and hubcaps can be painted or non-painted, and be made of a variety of different materials. Choose the automobile detailing supplies that will be most effective for the materials in your car. Don’t worry about treating the tread of the tire. It will just rub off. Treating it may also affect your warrantee.
As soon as the tire area is completely detailed, you are ready to move on to work on the rest of the car. Before you know it, others will be noticing your "hot car."
